28 | www.aapm.org.au

Gary SmithAcademic Director,

UNE PartnershipsAs practice managers, we are always looking for ways

of “doing things differently” with the resources we have

at our disposal, and as we know these resources are

diminishing. The introduction of the role of medical

assistants into our workplace is a new and exciting

employment option. The role of the MA may be a

workforce option for us.

Medical assistants are members of the health care

team who are formally trained to provide administrative

and clinical assistance to health practitioners working

in ambulatory care settings. The medical assisting

profession is well established worldwide and has been

in existence for over 50 years.

Medical assistants are multi-skilled team members and

perform tasks at the direction of the health practitioner.

Medical assistants undergo formal training to obtain

the Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting. It is

a nationally accredited course under the Australian

Qualifications Framework Level 4 (HLT47715).

ROLE SCOPEMedical assistants perform delegated clinical

and administrative duties within the supervising

practitioner’s scope of practice consistent with national

and state legislation, the healthcare practices’ protocols

and the medical assistant’s education, training and

experience. It is important to stress that these duties

shall not constitute the practice of medicine but a

support to the practice of medicine.

It is also important to understand that medical

assistants are not independent practitioners and do not

make decisions regarding the care of patients. Medical

assistants do not determine investigations to order, do

not diagnose, refer nor prescribe. Medical assistants do

not provide counselling services to patients apart from

providing instruction and education as per the health

practitioner’s directions.

SUPERVISIONThe health practitioner supervision shall be active and

continuous but shall not be construed as necessarily

requiring the physical presence of the supervising

practitioner at the time and place that support is

provided. It is important to note that the practitioners/

medical practice check with their Medical Defence

Organisation about the requirements relating to

insurance coverage; having a practice indemnity policy

(which is a separate policy to the individual doctor’s

indemnity cover) may offer the relevant coverage. If

the medical assistant is under the direct supervision of

the Practitioner and there are policy and procedures

in place about the scope of work to be carried out

and there are regular reviews of work performance the

respective indemnity should apply.

ROLE DESCRIPTIONMedical assistants are trained to be flexible team

members, able to cover front desk duties as well as

perform a wide range of common treatment room

procedures. Some healthcare practices choose to

utilise their MA solely in the treatment room, while

others roster the MA onto the front desk on certain

days and the treatment room on others. Many MAs

also fulfil a practice management function, including

human resource management, handling financial

accounts, rostering and office management.

The role of the MA should not reduce the role of the

nursing staff in a practice. Utilising the skills of the MA

allows nursing staff to be released from those tasks

and allows them to work at the top of their scope

of practice.

It is important to be aware that any “administration

staff” carrying out the duties of a MA without a

qualification, must be appropriately trained. This

training requires to be documented along with regular

updated training. A competency assessment should be

performed to ensure the MA is competent to perform

the delegated tasks. It is important in this instance to

ensure that the practitioners/practice Insurer is fully

aware of this situation.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIESMedical assistants are fully trained to fulfil the wide

range of administrative tasks required in a medical

practice setting including, but not limited to:

• Billing

• Appointment scheduling

• Recalls and reminders

• Telephone technique

• Managing medical records

• Inventory control

• Handling mail

• Managing the waiting room

The medical assisting profession

www.aapm.org.au | 29

1800 066 128 www.practicemanagement.edu.au

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• Information technology skills

• Extracting financial and clinical data

• Maintain work health and safety protocols

• Contribution to policy and procedures

CLINICAL DUTIESMedical assistants are also fully qualified to undertake clinical

duties including:

• Height, weight, BMI

• Blood glucose testing

• Onsite urinalysis and pregnancy testing

• Visual acuity and colour blindness testing

• Audiometry

• BP & TPR measurement

• Peak flow measurement

• Spirometry

• ECG

• Removal of plasters

• Assisting with plastering

• Assisting with PAP tests

• Assisting with minor operations

• Assisting with nebulisation

• Specimen collection (excluding venepuncture)

• Bandaging

• Application of splints and slings

• Removal of sutures and clips

• Application of wound dressings

• Assisting with medical emergencies

• Maintaining medication and other stocks

• Cold chain management

• Onsite sterilisation

• Maintaining infection control procedures

• Assisting with coordination of patient care

Currently the Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting is being delivered

by UNE Partnerships and there are groups currently across Queensland

and New South Wales doing the course.

If you would like to know more about the course contact UNE

Partnerships on 1800 066 128 or go to

www.unep.edu/medical-practice-assisting